SodySpokes

Thomas S. Monson, “May We So Live,” Ensign, Aug 2008, 4-9

Suddenly and without warning, on a bright day in September almost seven years ago, two airliners crashed into the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center, leaving devastating destruction and death. In Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania, two other airliners came down, also as a result of a terrorist plot. These tragedies snuffed out the lives of thousands of men, women, and children. Evaporated were well-laid plans for pleasant futures. Instead, there were tears of sorrow and cries of pain from wounded souls.

Countless were the reports we heard of those who were touched in some way_”either directly or indirectly_”by the events of that day. Rebecca Sindar was on a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dallas, Texas, on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Her flight, like all others in the United States at that time of tragedies, was interrupted; the plane was grounded in Amarillo, Texas. Sister Sindar reported: “We all left the plane and found televisions in the airport, where we crowded around to see the broadcast of what had happened. People were lined up to call loved ones to assure them we were safely on the ground. I shall always remember the 12 or so missionaries who were on their way to the mission field on our flight. They made phone calls, and then we saw them huddled in a circle in a corner of the airport, kneeling in prayer together. How I wish I could have captured that moment to share with the mothers and fathers of those sweet young men as they saw the need for prayer right away.” (Read the article)

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Alex’s Funeral Address
July 15, 2008
Written and delivered by Olivia Soderborg

As I was looking around and noticing all of the people dressed in orange yesterday and today, I am reminded of a letter I received from Alex last Christmas while I was on my mission. He said, “Besides baptisms, retention, and money what do you want for Christmas? Remember if it’s clothes we’ll need sizes for tops and bottoms. Now don’t get weird, I can pick out good lookin’ stuff. I just don’t choose to.” I’m sure if Alex could have chosen something to wear to for this occasion, it would have been something orange.

PEACE
When I found out about Alex’s death I had feelings similar to those described in this passage from first Kings when the Lord speaks to Elijah on Mt. Horeb:
“And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire: but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)
When I heard about Alex’s motorcycle accident, I felt like a great wind had rent my mountains and that there was an earthquake and fire that threatened to consume me…and after all that, as we opened the scriptures and knelt in family prayer, I felt the still, small voice of peace that comes straight from God, who promised:
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)
Our loving Heavenly Father has not left me or my family comfortless. (Read the article)

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Eulogy
July 15, 2008
Written and delivered by Brian Soderborg

In a lot of ways Alex and I are alike:  We love being in the sun, we like girls and, we have similar facial features.  Growing up it was often said that Alex looks like Brian, but Brian doesn’t look like Alex; which is weird because I’m the twin. In fact several people look like me but I don’t look like any of them. I often took solace in this but secretly didn’t tell anyone.
Born into mortality five minutes and forty seconds before I surprised the world, set him apart from the rest. That was September 15, 1983.  For the next half a dozen years we lived in a little cottage of a house by Liberty Park.  It was a huge house until one day we left the windows open and it shrank, at least that’s what my mom says.  In our time at Harrison (we name our houses by way of the street they’re on) we would go on walks around the park for Family Home Evening; climb the gigantic trees in our back yard, these things were huge; sure the house was small but you could see these trees from the park and in front of the house and they were big.  Mom would put the laundry on the clothes line and we’d eat raspberries and apricots from around the yard.  Inside we had one bed for the six of us to sleep on, and so we did. At bedtime we’d all find a spot around the edge of the bed so as to not be by each other, in the morning we’d all be on top of each other like puppies in the middle of the loft. The one on bottom was usually the first one awake, not sure why…

(Read the article)

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Hey Dad, I just wanted to share this with you.

It’s so true, parents make everything better!

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Sacrament Meeting Talk - Dec 23, 2007

We know that when God answers our prayers he often uses other people to help Him answer them. And he sometimes uses us to answer the prayers of others.
I wonder, in the answering of our prayers, if he ever utilizes the input of our loved ones from the other side.
You see, I figure that Bro Goode was either inspired…by my dad, or he had a stupor of thought, but just wouldn’t give it up…when he asked me to speak…Let me explain. (Read the article)

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